Fountain pen



July l1, 1950 J. A. sNoDGRAss FOUNTAIN PEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 11, 1946 FGFME Lal l Gttomeg I Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE 2,514,729 FOUNTAIN PEN J olm A. Snodgrass, Prescott, Ark.

Application october 11,1946, serial No. 702,717

Claims. l

The invention relates to improvements in fountain pens, and more particularly to fountain pens of the type disclosed in my prior patents, NOS. 2,149,557 and 2,234,812. The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description 'in which are set lforth illustrative embodiments of the inventive thought, but which are not intended as limiting the invention to the particular details set forth therein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the pen embodying my invention showing the pen in working position;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the'pen in closed position and with the cap applied thereto, the cap being shown partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a central axial view of my 'pen showing the salient features thereof, a portion of the barrel being broken away and the cap being removed; I

Fig. 4 is a sectional vertical view similar to Fig. 3 but taken on a plane removed 90 from the plane of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the pen point member;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional View on a plane similar to that in which Fig. 4 is taken but showing a modification, portions being broken away. l

Referring to the drawing, A denotes generally a fountain pen embodying my invention toeither end of which may be applied a cap member B provided with a holding clip C which is streamline in form and shaped to correspond with the shape of afountaln pen. The clip is designed to hold the pen in the pocket of the user, A pair of Ventilating openings D are provided in the cap. In Fig. 1 the cap is shown applied to the pen in operative position, and in Fig. 2 the cap is shown `applied to the pen in inoperative position.

The pen A comprises a barrel portion E'which is preferably ofplastic material and may be tapered at one end so as to give a streamlined appearance while the remainder of the barrel is of substantially cylindrical form. The cylindrical end I I of the barrel E may be internally threaded as at I2 to receive corresponding external threads I3 of the plug portion I 4 of a combined nipple and barrel plug member F which is tapered -so as to give the pen a streamlined and attractive appearance. The member F is so formed asto prevent ink from getting on the fingers and also serves to prevent dust, lint, etc., from getting inside of the pen 'and is designed to prevent ink 2 in the pen from drying' `when the pen is not in use. The member F is also designed to reinforce the pen point so that the n'ibs thereof will not spread or bend out of their original shape. By

reason of this reinforcement car-bon copies may be made without damage to the pen point.

The barrel plug member F may be made substantially of one piece, preferably of plastic material as indicated in Figs. 1 to 4, or may be partly of plastic material F1 and partly of 'metal F2 as indicated infFig. 7, the two portions of the barrel being suitably secured together by threaded connections F3.

As shown the member F is provided with a pair of lateral openings I5, I5 which serve to prevent condensation within the 'interior of the member F.

Between the bar-'rel plug member E and the member F there is provided a metal friction ring G the outside diameter of which is slightly larger than the upper end of the tapered part of the combined nipple and barrel plug F and of the lower end of the barrel E. The function of this friction ring is to firmly hold the cap B in position when the same is applied, as indicated in Fig. 2. If desired the cap may be attached to the pen by means of threads, in which case the friction ring G may be omitted. However, by the use of the friction ring, assembly of the cap and pen is facilitated and the attaching threads become unnecessary.

The pen point member I constitutes one of the characteristic features of my invention. This member is best shown in Fig. 5 and comprises a split tapered point I6 which projects beyond the nipple F 'and the metal sleeve J which is fitted within the end of the nipple F. The point merges into a split cylindrical portion I1 which is held i within the metalysleeve J and is carried by tapered wing member I8 which is adapted to t within the holder member K, lthe lower portion of which is Split to receive the wing member. The wing member I8 is shaped to correspond with the cross'section of the holder K at thel lsplit portion.l The wing member I8 comprises opposed fiat faces' I9 and is slightly wedge-shaped in cross section or end elevation, as best indicated in Figs. 4 and 7, whereby a snug fit of the wing member within the split lower portion of the holder K is provided. Ihe sides of the wing member I8 taper upwardly and outwardly from the cylindrical portion I1 as indicated at 22, 22 in Figs. 3 and 5, and merge into parallel sides 24, 24 beyond the point 23. The Sides 24 are at right angles to the upper vedge 20 0f the Wing member, the central portion of which is provided with a central V-shaped notch 2| therein. About the center of the wing member I8 there is provided an opening 25 from which extends a slit 26 dividing the lower portion of the wing member and extending through the cylindrical and tapered portions and I6 dividing them into halves or nibs 29. The metal sleeve or ring J may be cut from tubing and is preferably of non-corrosive material such as stainless steel or gold. The metal `sleeve is tted closely .around the two halves or nibs 29 so that ink will not collect. The sleeve J reinforces and strengthens-'1&1

the nibs, which accordingly cannot spreadl or bend out of their original shape. Accordingly,

the type of ink line for which the pen is originally designed will be insured throughout the life o f the pen. Moreover, carbon copies may be made Without damage to the pen point. The `metai sleeve insulates or seals the nibs, thereby preventing ink within the slit of the pen pointfrom drying. Accordingly, the writing end of the pen point is always 'moist and will write .instantly As will be noted from Figs. 3 and`4, the lower end 50 of the metal' sleeve is tapered and forms a continuation[ofl the'` streamlined taper of the outside of thejcombined nipple and barrel plug memberll As previously stated, the point member I shown in Fig. 5 coacts with the holder member K.. This member Kcombinesthe functions of a penv point combined :elements fit snugly'within the lower end of theY nippleandbarrel plug member F.

with the feed passageway 33 and at their outer ends communicating with a pair of longitudinal grooves 43, 43 formed in the surface of the member K which connect a series of circular grooves 44, 44, the series of grooves 44, 44 extending from the upper pair of intermediate openings 4|, 4| to the lower pair 42, 42 so that the central passageway 33, the openings 4| and 42, the longitudinal grooves 43, 43 and the circular grooves 44, 44' areincommunication with each other. The circular grooves 44,' 44, togetherwith the longitudinal grooves 43, 43 and apertures 4|, 4|

and. 42, 42, constitute the ink collector portion of ..the member K and serve to prevent the ink from drying when the pen is carried in the pocket or invany position and insure an instant start and evenflowpf the feed. The ink cannot "pass from the barrel to the ink collector except '40 interioriof' vthe split portion 3 4of the memberr K corresponds in shape withfthat ofthe wing portion I8 ofthe pen pointI member I, and the Thecylindrical'portiori3'of the holder member `K projects upwardlyat32fabove the. top of the threaded .plug portion |4 of the member .lilY into the barrel A', and 'any suitable'lling means mayl be employed for supplying ink. `Av central axial feed passageway 33 extendsthrough the member K from, the topportion .thereof 34 toy a point 35 within the split lower portion 3| thereof. Ad-

jacent the lower end ofthe passage 33l and in line with the'o'pening' 25 in the'pen point member I is a lateral opening 36 which communicates with an annular chamber'3l formed .in thenippIe member F, which annular chamberftapers upy.

Wardly `and'downwardly at 38l and 39. `The Ventilating ap`erturesv- |5 ,previously referred to `communicate withthis chamber and thus through the opening'l3'6with'the central passageway 33 ofthe memberK, and also with the opening 25 halves orfnibs rof rthefportiofns'"| .and 6 of the pen point.'y

As shown, a pair of'lateral openings 4 0 are.

provided in thevprojecting upper portion of the passageway l33.]Int'erme'diat'e the lupper openings 40, 40 and the lower opening36are two additional setsof radial passageways or openings 4|, 4|

and 42,boll1y coniinunicatinglat their mler ends.y 25..

. 7o. member'K` communicating. with the central feed through the feed. At high altitude the ink may pass from the barrel through the feed to the collector andprevent the'pen fromhaving any tendency to dripor overfeed.

In assembling the pen thel point member I is first internttea with the holder member K, the Wedge shapedwing-portion of thepoint member being forced between the exible halves 66,

6| at' the lower portion of the holder Kv until the notchv 2|- is in line with the openings 42, 42 at the lower. end of the inl; collector, and .the opening I25 in thefpoint member .I is in line kwith the:

lower radial passage 36 in theholder The ,combined .penl point I and holder K are thentted intothe member. F2 from vthe open top thereof until thejapered 11ibs extend beyond the ring350, the cylindrical portion being reinforced by its snug fit within; the -.ringimemben The points of .the4 indicators I-I shouldbe in line with a dividing line 26 separting the nibs ofthe point member I. In this position the axis of theopenings l5 in the member'F will be 90 removed from the-axis of the opening 36 in themember K which communicates with the opening 25 in the pen pointr member and the lower end ofthe feed passagetained between the split lowerr portionr ofthe,

member K bothabove and .below they annular air chamber 3'|. This air chamber, together with the outer openings-l5 in the. member F andthe passage 36in the member K, serves to Ventilate thev inside of thelower'partof thecombined tapered nippleand barrel .plug and prevent condensation, thereby preventingthepen from drippingor over.-

The pen may befiilledby-any suitable means f through the upper end of the member K. When'v 1 a rubbergsacl; or they likel is employed as the feeding means a'sleeveionthe-like (not shown) lmay 1' be applied to the upper endbf the member K tog;

.cooperate-withthe sack.l 1.

the endA of the barrel member E.

When the cap B is appliedoverthe nipple end' of thev pen as indicated in Fig. 2 the interior of the cap frictionally,engages-ring G, holdingv it in position.. For, writingpurposes the cap B is-applied to the other end Io f the pen as indicated in Fig. 1.

The friction ring G is preferably carriedby the member F and forms a shoulder for contact with .Itwiil -befriptedgthat the writing, end for. the ,pea

point is at the center of the Den structure rather than eccentrically mounted as in prior art devices. Such eccentric mounting throws the fountain pen structure in the writers hand off balance, whereas in the present device the fountain pen structure and the writers hands are constantlyin balance. Accordingly, the present devicewih vbe popular with those who seldom use the prior art type of fountain pen. Regular users of fountain pens will appreciate this feature as well.

It will be noted that the air space 31 ventilates and therefore air conditions the inside of the lower part of the combined tapered nipple and barrel plug member F. The upper end of the pen point member I is insulated by the lower part of the pen point holder-pen point insulator-feed-ink collector-unit K and the lower part of the pen point is insulated by the metal sleeve J. By reason of ventilation which air conditions the inside of the lower part of the combined tapered nipple and barrel plug, and by insulating the pen point, condensation is prevented and accordingly the pen will have no tendency to `drip or overfeed. The ink collector portion of the unit K is entirely enclosed within the combined nipple and barrel plug member F and the feedand upper part of the pen point member I are enclosed within the unit K, while the lower part ofv the pen point is enclosed in the metal sleeve I so that the entire feeding system is enclosed except a fraction of the writing end of the pen point. Accordingly, quick drying ink may be employed with this pen without drying occurring in the feeding system and without loss from evaporation.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration but it will be obvious that numerous modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

No lling device is shown in connection with the pen as any suitable lling device may be employed. For example, the pen may be lled by a filling device enclosed in the barrel; or the pen may be filled by removing the combined tapered nipple and barrel plug and placing an ink cartridge in the barrel; or ink may be sold in containers holding just enough ink to ll the barrel by pouring the ink into the barrel. 'I'hese methods are mentioned simply as illustrative and other filling means may be employed as desired.

It will be apparent that while the cylindrical portion I1 of pen point member I is retained within the ring member J so that undue expansion of the nibs is avoided, there will be some clearance and play between the nibs and the sleeve J. The nibs and sleeve, however, are tted so that ink will not collect betweenthe nibs and sleeve. The sleeve, however, is adapted to reinforce and strengthen the nibs so that they will not spread or bend out of their original shape.

I claim:

1. In a fountain pen in combination with an outer casing comprising a barrel member and a tapered nipple member detachably connected thereto, an inner pen holding member fitting within the nipple member having a split portion at the lower end thereof snugly fitting within the tapered end of the nipple member, said split portion providing a slit, a pen point member comprising a flat surfaced wing portion frictionally retained within the slit in the holding member, and a pointed cylindrical tip integral with the wing portion extending beyond the holding member and through an end opening in the nipple member, said holding member having a cen- 6;" tral-axialink feeding passageway extending from the interior of the barrel portion into the slitted portion of the holding member; said pen point member being split from a point adjacent the f, lower end. of the axial yink feeding passageway to the tip ofthe pen toprovide the sole path for ink to said tip from said central passageway.

2. In a fountain pen in combination withan outer casing comprising a barrel member and a tapered nipple member detachably connected thereto, an inner pen holding member fitting within the nipple member having a split portion at the lower end thereof snugly fitting within the tapered end of the nipple member, said split portion providing a slit, a pen point member comprising a nat surfaced wing portion frictionally retained within the slit in the holding member, and a pointedcylindrical tip integral with the wing portion extending beyond the holding Amember and throughr an end opening in the nipple member, said holding member having a central axial inkjfeeding passageway extending from the interior of the barrel portion into the slitted portion of the holding member, said pen pointmember being split from a point adjacent `the lower end of they axial ink feeding passageway to the tip of the pen to provide the sole path for ink to'said. tip from said central passageway, said nipple having a retaining ring secured at the lower end thereof fitting snugly around the cylindrical portion of said pen member.

3. In a fountain pen in combination with an outer casing comprising a barrel member and a tapered nipple member detachably connected thereto, said tapered nipple member providing an annular chamber in its interior adjacent the lower or writing end of the pen, an inner pen holding member fitting within the nipple member having a split portion at the lower end thereof snugly fitting within the tapered end of the nipple member, said split portion providing a slit, a pen point member frictionally retained within the slit in the holding member and having a pointed tip extending beyond the holding member and through an end opening in the nipple member, said holding member having a central axial ink feeding passageway extending from the interior of the barrel portion into the slitted portion of the holding member, said pen point member being split from a point adjacent the lower end of the axial ink feeding passageway to the tip of the pen to provide the sole path for ink to said tip from said central passageway, said pen holder having a passage therethrough at about the level of the top ofV the slit in the pen point member communicating with said annular chamber, said nipple having an air passage therethrough establishing communication between said annular chamber and the atmosphere.

4. In a fountain pen in combination with an outer casing compri-sing a barrel member and a tapered nipple member detachably connected thereto, an inner pen holding member fitting within the nipple member having a split portion at the lower end thereof snugly fitting within the tapered end of the nipple member, said split portion providing a slit, a pen point member frictionally retained within the slit in the holding member and having a pointed tip extending beyond the holding member and through an end opening in the nipple member, said holding member having a central axial ink feeding passageway extending from the interior of the 2gsm-12911 7 barrel portion into the slitted portion 'of the holding member, said pen point member being split from a point adjacent the lower endof `the axial ink feeding passageway to the 1 tip of the pen to provide the sole path for ink to said tip from said central passageway, said pen point holding member having external circular grooves intermediate the ends thereof, said grooves being connected at top and bottom with the central ink feeding passageway by means of radial passageways penetrating the wall of said holder, the lower radialv passageway being at about the level of the top of the pen point when the same is fitted within said holder, and the pen point holding member being further pro- `vided with shallow longitudinal grooves communicating with each of the circular grooves and extending only between the upper and lower radial passageways.

5. In a fountain pen, in combination with a nipple member and a barrel member to which said nipple member is detachably connected, a pen holding and ink feeding member tting within the interior of said nipple and having a split lower end, a pen point member having a retaining portion frictionally held by the split portion of said holder and also having a pointed portion extending beyond the holder and projecting through4 an end opening in said nipple,- said holder having a central ink feeding passageway extending from the upper end to the pen point member, upper and lower radial passage-A ways penetrating said holder and communicat-` ing with said central passage, said holder also having external shallow grooves extending longitudinally and oircumferentially of the holder, the longitudinal groove intersecting the circumferential grooves and communicating at their ends with said radial passageways.

* JOI-IN A. SNODGRASS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED I STATES PATENTS Winter Dec. 14, 1948 

